The presentation on “A Strategic Framework for the Management of Process Alarms at the Engen Refinery” drew record attendance at the Durban SAIMC March Technology Evening. Presented by Brian Thompson, lead advanced process control engineer at the Engen refinery, Durban, and ably assisted by Nirmal Narotam of PAS Automation (they wrote the presentation together), Brian took us through control room evolution. He began by showing his attentive audience developments since the time when individual panel-mounted indicators, recorders and alarm annunciators were used and how, with the advent of DCS and scada systems making the addition of process alarms simpler and cheaper, operators became unable to cope effectively with the huge number and frequency of alarms with which they were confronted, particularly during emergencies.
Left to right: Nirmal Narotam (PAS Automation), Brian Thompson, (Engen) and Hennie Prinsloo (our new branch chairman).
Since 2012 the number of process alarms to the operator at the Engen refinery has been significantly reduced towards the point of compliance with the ISA18.2 and EEMUA 191 specifications. The operational benefits of reducing the demand on process operators are well documented and Brian presented the strategic framework that led to the results achieved, some of the challenges experienced, and the methods employed to overcome them. Redefining an entire process alarm system can lead to high levels of anxiety amongst the operations staff due to their uncertainty about how it will change their operating culture and it was interesting to hear about a novel use of a refinery training simulator which greatly facilitated the required change in operating culture and was considered to be a key factor in the success of the project.
Brian’s qualifications and over 20 years of experience in process control and advanced process control with Sasol, Honeywell Hi Spec Solutions and Engen, made him eminently qualified to present to the branch and judging by the attendance, questions and interaction, it was clear that this was a topic of interest and pertinent to many industries other than just petrochemical.
April Technology Evening
The April technology meeting will be held on Wednesday 13 (not the 1st Wednesday as usual) and will be kindly sponsored by Schneider Electric. The topic is “Cyber Security in the Industrial Space” presented by Jay Abdallah, director – EMEA Cyber Security Services. If you would like to attend please RSVP to [email protected] by 11 April.
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